Hawaii
IT was all too predictable that the grand opening of John Carroll's campaign headquarters was far smaller and humbler than that of his GOP opponent, Linda Lingle. But it's conveniently located right next door to Republican headquarters, and the 100 or so who showed up were treated to a feast by Chef Glenn Chu of Indigo, Faye Wong of On On Chinese Restaurant and Richard Whittier of Kakaako Bakery. Carroll is 71 -- Frank Fasi probably calls him "Kid" -- but he belongs to a hula halau on the Big Island and treated those in attendance to a spirited hula titled "Holo Wa'a Pa." Supporters of Carroll are huhu that he's ignored in the GOP Web site and newsletter, and they were tickled by Corky's political cartoon showing Republican Party chairman Micah Kane in a Lingle T-shirt, denying any favoritism for her over "what's his name." ... Carroll opens campaign
with flair and gourmet fareA DEVELOPER who'd prefer anonymity picked up a new BMW and had to take it back for a few things to be looked at and to adjust the Global Positioning System. When he got the car back, he tried the GPS and had to return it again. While the GPS was working, the language was in French. N'est-ce pas? ... High-flying Emme Tomimbang had nothing on the chap she brought as a guest to the Honolulu Club the other day. He was three-time space traveler Richard Linnehan, who had a good workout and massage while attempting to regain muscle tone lost during his Space Shuttle mission. He's now a member of the four-man team that has serviced and upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope. After his club workout, Linnehan jogged across the street to tend to his Honolulu mission, the Science Fair ...
Hawaiian spoken here
YOU'D expect to hear Hawaiian spoken in certain school classes or meetings of local elders, but at a bar? Why yes, if it's Hale Noa on Kapahulu. It's a popular place for UH students, many of them in Hawaiian studies, so Hawaiian can often be heard spoken there, though it's not required. Popping in the other night you could find Henry Kapono, playing hooky from his own club in the Aloha Tower Marketplace, with wife and manager Lezlee Ka'aihue. music was provided by Ernie Cruz Jr., Shawn Ishimoto (formerly billed as B.B. Shawn), and Lopaka Colon. Most popular drink: 'awa, or kava to some people. Pretty server Kawena Chun suggests drinking it "like a shot," but if you're a sipper, 'awa-maker Kekaulike Mar says to stir it well. It's nonalcoholic, but serves up a kind of numbness of the mouth ... A haole friend was in Hale Noa not long ago, sipping 'awa and reading, when two Hawaiian women began talking about her in unflattering terms, saying she was trying to look local. They were unaware that the young woman is a member of a hula halau and speaks fluent Hawaiian, something they learned to their dismay when she bid them aloha in their native tongue on leaving ...
Equine-imity
POLO season gets underway April 28 at Waimanalo. Not only is this the 16th season of the club founded by Bob MacGregor, it should have a special panache, since this is the Chinese calendar's "Year of the Horse." The pre-match festivities get under way with John & Lita Cook and the Hawaii Pa'u Riders ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
The Week That Was recalls items from Dave's 30 years of columns.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com